Sprinkler head



July 24, 1956 2,756,099

E. N. REYNOLDS, JR

SPRINKLER HEAD Filed June '27, 1955 INVEN TOR.

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SPRINKLER HEAD Elmer N. Reynolds, Jr., Rivera, Calif.

Application June 27, 1955, Serial No. 517,978

Claims. (Cl. 299-61) The present invention relates generally to asprinkler head and relates more specifically to a pop-up type rotarysprinkling arrangement.

In heavy duty sprinkling arrangements, serious problems have existedhereinbefore relative to the complex mechanisms that were frequentlyassociated with such arrangements, which made them diflicult to drive,absorbed considerable power and thus reduced the effective throw ofwater therefrom. Additionally, in situations such as large commerciallawns, it is necessary that permanent sprinkler installations beprovided and that sprinkling heads may automatically retract when waterthereto is shut off.

In prior arrangements, after sprinkling use over a relatively shortperiod of time and upon induction of dirt, etc. into the operationmechanism of the sprinkler arrangements, the normal heretofore knownretracting mechanisms have failed to operate whereby to leave thesprinkler heads in "an elevated condition, thus marring the appearanceof such lawns. Additionally, it is desirable and even mandatory in someinstances, that retractable sprinkler heads operate at all times in areliable manner in order that mowers or the like may pass thereoverwithout interference. Prior similar arrangements have failed toaccomplish this objective.

It is accordingly one important object of the present invention toprovide an automatically retractable sprinkler head.

It is another object of the invention to provide an automaticallyretractable sprinkler head arrangement having means responsive to theflow of water therethrough for driving the head. A

A further important object of the present invention is to provide acombination retractable head sprinkler device, means to drive said headand reduction gearing arranged in association therewith whereby toprovide for efficient and reliable operation therewith under allconditions even though encountering dirt and other contaminants.

A still further important object of the present invention is to providea sprinkler head having retraction means and means to rotate said headwherein considerably fewer components are utilized than heretofore, thusrendering the sprinkler head more easy to manufacture, more reliable touse and more effective in operation.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide agear train mechanism for retractable sprinkler heads wherein gearsutilized in such train are journalled on or connected to but a pair ofshafts thus promoting smaller envelope requirements for the device.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide asprinkler head wherein operating components thereof are arranged inassociation with such head, whereas to permit utilization of the weightthereof in returning the head to a retracted position upondiscontinuance of the flow of water thereto.

Other and further important objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from the disclosures in nited States Patent 0 r 2,756,099Patented July 24, 1956 following detailed specification, appended claimsand accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view through the sprinkler head ofthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view through the head and nozzleportions of the present sprinkler head as taken substantially asindicated by line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view showing the arrangement of thedriving mechanism within a supporting case as taken substantially asindicated by line 33, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is another transverse sectional view showing a portion of thegear train mechanism as taken substantially as indicated by line 44,Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a further transverse sectional view showing the turbinearrangement associated with the present sprinkler head driving assembly.

With reference to the drawing, the sprinkler device of the presentinvention includes a body 10 that has a recess 11 formed in the upperportion thereof. A second recess 12, arranged eccentrically with therecess 11, is disposed adjacent the recess 11 and extends substantiallythroughout the body 10. The lower end of the body 10 is threaded as at13 for connection to a water supply pipe 14. A bore 15 is providedbetween the inner end of the pipe 14 and the lower end of the recess 12,there being a swirl nozzle 16 positioned within this bore.

The upper end of the body 10 has attached thereto a cover member 17 asby means of screws 18, there being a gasket 20 disposed between thecover and the upper surface of the body. The cover 17 has a concentricopening 21 therein in which a sprinkler head 22 is positioned. The head22 is relatively heavy and has a flanged lower end portion 23, againstwhich a sealing member 24 is positioned. The under side of the head 22is recessed as at 25, there being a pair of nozzles 26 and 27 disposedoutwardly from the recess 25 and threadably engaging the sides of thehead 22, as at 28 and 30, respectively. One of the nozzles 26 issomewhat longer than the nozzle 27 and has a larger opening therein soas to provide for both a long and a short water throw from the presentdevice.

The lower end of the head 22 has depended therefrom a pair of brackets31 and 32, to which a cross member 33 is connected. The cross member 33is adapted for connection with one end of a shaft 34 that is carried byand journalled in a pair of spaced plates 35 and 36. The plates 35 and36 are disposed within the recess 12 and have projections 37 about theperipheries thereof. The projections 37 are placed in close spacedrelationship to the wall of the recess 12 which thus defines a passage38 between the outer peripheries of the plates 35 and 36 and the wall ofthe recess 12. The plates 35 and 36 also serve to support another shaft41 which is journalled therein. A gear train 42 is carried by the shafts34 and 41 to provide considerable gear reduction with the gear trainbeing driven through a driving gear 43, which is mounted on a shaft 44,that is in turn journalled on the axis of the plate 36. The lower end ofthe shaft 44 is adapted to carry a turbine rotor 45. Each of the variousgears in the gear train 42 are individually rotatable upon the shafts 34and 41 with the exception of the uppermost gear 46 that is pinned to theshaft 34 by means of a pin or key 47.

As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the plates 35 and 36 are maintained intight engagement with the sleeve or cover 40 by means of a pair ofelongated screws 48 which extend through sleeves 50 that are disposedbetween the 3 vention may be-utilizedas a'pa'rt circle sprinklingarrangement, a sleeve 51- is disposed about-the cylindrical upperportion of the head 22. The sleeve 51 has a circumferential slot 52extending a portion of the distance about this sleeve and a radiallyextending-tab 53 disposed'in' a slot 54, the slot 54 being on the innerperiphery of'the opening 21 in the-cover 1'72 Tli'e liead 22 is adaptedfor rotating within thesleeve 51 with the throw of water from thenozzles2*6'-and 27f being. limited by the circumferential opening 52.

In operation of the present device, the water under pressure is admittedthroughthe pipe14; passes through the nozzle 16-and is admitt'ed totheinterior" of the recesses 12 and 11*. Theforce of the waterin there'eesses will act upon the head 22 and flanged portion 23 thereof, thusto move the-head-22, plates 35 and36, associated gear train42 andturbine rot'or 45 in-an= upwardly direction until the gasket24 engagesan 'innerl surface of the cover 17. Simultaneously; water forced throughthe nozzle 16 will rotate-the=turbine rotor 45; thus torotate the shaft44 and, through the'gear train 42, rotate the shaft 34; The shaft 34next in turn rotates-thehead 22. Water beingdelivered from the platesofthe turbine rotor 45 will pass outwardly therefrom and through thepassage 38into the recess 25 of the-head and outwardly through thenozzles 26 and 27.

It is to be noted" that all of the operating mechanism contained withinthis particular sprinkler is carried as a compositeunit as far asvertical action is concerned and that this mechanism will all'be movedupwardly together upon application of water'pressure to the interiorofthe device. Upon discontinuance of water to the present sprinkler, theentire weight of this internal mechanism will serve to withdraw thesprinkler head from the position shown by the dotted lines to theposition shown by the solidlines in Fig. 1, thus to remove anyobstruction to machines, such as mowers, that must pass over thesprinkling device.

Additionally, the withdrawal of the sprinkler head may serve to'maintainthe appearance of the lawn as being an uninterruptedsurface. Effectiveuse-of the present device is accordingly assured by reason ofthe-connection of all the mechanism together and the utilization of allof the weight thereof for the purpose defined.

The use of but'a pair ofshafts in the gear train mechanism rather than aplurality of such shafts, promotes a considerably smaller package thanwould otherwise be necessary and accordingly considerably simplerconstruction and a simple water travel path that is uninterrupted bymultiple bends, thus to lose the force therein". Additionally, the'head22 will offer little, if any, resistance to rotation due to the factthat the power inputto the gear train is arranged ona'difr'erentshaftthan the power output therefrom. Any tendency for the gear'train as-'sembly, together with the plates 35 and 36, to rotate is eliminated byengagement of a rib SSdisposed vertically in an inward direction fromthe wall of the chamber 12 with a notch 56 formed in one of the tabs 37carried about the plates 35 and '36;

Having thus described the invention and the present embodiment. thereof,it.is desired to emphasize the fact that many modifications may beresorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A sprinkler comprising: a body adapted for disposition below groundlevel;,a.stepped bore in said body; a swirl nozzle disposed in alowermost portion of said bore; means for delivering" water' underpressure to an intake for said swirl nozzle; a'turbine wheel disposedadjacent said swirl nozzle, the discharge from said swirl nozzle beingadapted for impingement upon said turbine wheel; a rotary memberdisposed :in an uppermost portion of said bore, said member having anaxis of rotation disposed eccentrically from an axis of said turbine; atleast one water discharge nozzle carried by said rotary member anddirected substantially radially therefrom; a plurality of rotary speedreducing gears defining a gear train and disposed in said boreintermediate said turbine and said rotary member; first coupling meansinterconnecting a highspeedend'of said gear'train'with said turbine;second coupling means interconnecting a low speed end of said geartrainwith said rotary member; and means responsiveto the pressure ofsaid'water acting upon an axially directed face of said' rotary member,and associated with said second-coupling means for permitting axialmovement of said rotary member and said water discharge nozzle to alevel above' said ground level.

2. A sprinkler according to claim 1 wherein said turbine includes anaxial flow rotor having blade discharge means for directing water towardan outer periphery of said bore and about saidgear' train.

3. A sprinkler according to claim 1 wherein said water discharge nozzlesare two in number and of different lengths anddirections whereby todirect water therefrom over annular surfaces of said ground at differentradii from said sprinkler; 4. A sprinkler according'to clairn'l whereinmeans are provided to limit said axialmovement of said rotary member,saidrotary memberhaving sufiicient weight to permit its returnto' anoriginalposition upon termination of water pressure acting thereupon.

5. A sprinkler'according'toclaim 1 wherein said gears of said gear trainare commonly arranged on a pair of shafts; spaced partitions disposed insaid bore, said shafts being'journalled in said partitions; and cutoutsin peripheral portions of said partitions for permitting passage ofwater thereabout;

ReferencesiCited in the the of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.23,646 Burdick d. Apr. 21, 1953 1,753,841 Thompson Apr. 8, 19302,187,549 Thompson Jan. 16, 1940 2,209,961 Lacy-Mulhall Aug. 6, 1940

